All the Arts, All the Time

San Diego's Old Globe announces lineup for 2009-10 season

May 4, 2009 | 12:50
pm

A new musical from Duncan Sheik and a new musical biography of Sammy Davis Jr. are the highlights of the 2009-10 season at the Old Globe in San Diego.

The company has announced a lineup of nine productions, the same number as this past season. In addition, the company said it will open its long-awaited new stage, the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, in December.

"Sammy," a world premiere musical about the life of the legendary performer, opens the season on Sept. 17 at the Old Globe Theatre. Featuring songs by Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley — as well as some of the crooner's own signature tunes — the show spans Davis' life from his childhood to his years as a member of the Rat Pack.

Duncan Sheik follows up his work on "Spring Awakening" with a new musical titled "Whisper House," opening Jan. 13 at the Old Globe Theatre. Sheik wrote the music and lyrics for this story about the keepers of a lighthouse and the spirits that haunt them. The album of the musical was released on CD earlier this year.

The season features productions of five plays: the West Coast premiere of Evan Smith's "The Savannah Disputation" (opening Sept. 26); a revival of Neil Simon's "Lost in Yonkers" (opening Jan. 23); the Tony-winning revival of "Boeing-Boeing" (opening March 13); the world premiere of Kenny Finkle's "Alive and Well" (opening March 20); and the West Coast premiere of Matthew Lopez's "The Whipping Man" (opening May 8, 2010).

British stage actor Roger Rees will present his one-man show "What You Will," which is scheduled to open on May 1.

Rounding out the lineup is the Old Globe's annual holiday production of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

On Dec. 7, the Old Globe will officially open the new Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, a 251-seat house that will serve as the company's second stage and that replaces the old Cassius Carter Center Stage. The first production scheduled for the new theater will be the aforementioned revival of "Lost in Yonkers."